ATLANTA—Knowing where to get assistance after a disaster can make the process go faster. Help is available from a wide range of sources.
Contact your insurance company. Insurance can be an important source of assistance for people and businesses.
Register with FEMA. FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program may provide help in the form of temporary housing and financial assistance if you suffered eligible losses or damages to your home, rental home or personal property.
Register online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or via smartphone by going to FEMA’s mobile site at m.fema.gov. Applicants may also call 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. If you use 711 or Video Relay Services call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week until further notice.
Federal disaster aid to people may include:
- Rental assistance for temporary housing if your home or apartment is unlivable;
- Grants for minimal home repairs and replacement of essential household items not covered by insurance to make damaged dwellings safe, sanitary and functional;
- Grants to replace personal property and help meet medical, dental, funeral and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance or other federal, state and charitable aid programs; and
- Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to cover losses of renters and homeowners.
Federal aid to businesses and nonprofits may include:
- Low-interest disaster loans from the SBA for businesses and certain private nonprofit organizations that sustained physical damage or economic injury.
Seek out community sources. In addition to FEMA, you should know that a number of voluntary agencies, faith- based groups and community organizations are providing food, shelter, supplies and are assisting in clean-up efforts. Contact your local government or call 2-1-1 to access a range of aid programs to help Mississippians recover from Isaac.
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FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.
Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362). For TTY call 800-462-7585.
FEMA’s temporary housing assistance and grants for public transportation expenses, medical and dental expenses, and funeral and burial expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, applicants who receive SBA loan applications must submit them to SBA loan officers to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.
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